Electric signal system.



. u. NELSON;

J nacmc SIGNAL sv srem; APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. (911.

' Patented Jan. 22,1918.

UNITED strAi ns PATENT crimes. 4 ,4

JAMES I). swore, cmcnmarr, 01110.

' ELECTRIC srenar. SYSTEM;

v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918-.

Application'filed February 26, 1917. Serial No. 150395.

To all whome't may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES D. NELSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Electric Signal Systems, of which the followingis a 1 specification.

In electric signal systems of the type herein disclosed, and now in use, each kind of device to be supervisedby the system, has controlling magnets, the resistance of which is at all times in the circuit of the system. This results in added resistance to the circuit of the system, each timean additional device to be supervised, .is added to the circuit. Eventually the circuit resistance is increased to such anexte nt by such additions that the number of devices which can, be installed one single circuit, has to be limited, any more devicesto be supervised therefore, necessitating the installation of another system. This entails anadditional expense and care. Furthermore, certainsignal systems now employed, necessitate the use of a battery or other source of electric venergy on the protected prem: 'ises. This is also an added expense and re quires constant attention. There is another system [in which mechanically actuated transmitters-have been devised and which requires a transmitter for each device to be supervised, differing thereby from the two preceding systems which only require one transmitter foreach kind-of device being supervised and therefore the third named system'may become the most expensive to tions.

vices..

installand in the opinion of some has the disadvantage of requiring that transmitters be. installed at times in; undesirable loca- To-overcome'ithe'se objections to systems now'in use I have devised the system now to be described and which I have disclosed as being particularly adapted foruse in the supervision'of sprinkler systems.

An object of myinvention is toproduce a signal'system in which the resistance of the controlling magnets of the device to be supervised, is normally out of the circuit until momentarily introduced therein upon actuation of any one of the supervised de A further object is to produce an im proved supervisory electric signal system of the central energy type, in which the resistance of the circuit is not permanently increased either when the supervised-devices, I

are positioned at trouble or normally positioned.

A further object is to produce a supervi- Sory electric signal system in which the number of devices which may-be supervised, is unlimited.

These and other objects are attained in the signal system described in the following specification and illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a.su-'

pervised device, the signaling apparatus controlled by it, and the electrical connections thereof, together with a portion of the 5 line circuit in which the signaling apparatus is located."

' Fig. 2 is a simplified diagrammatic 'representation --of the electric connections 2111f switches disclosed'in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the complete supervising signal system embodying my invention showing the central or signal receiving station and a series of four. signaling mechanisms, each controlled by two supervised devices.

In the illustrated embodiment of my improved system I have shown a gate valve 4: as an'exa'mple of device in a sprinkler system to be supervised by my improved sig- 'na'l systemfl; -An alarm or signal-transmitter .5 is provided for responding to the movements of thevalvewhen it is changed from 'tipninterm ediate its open and closed positions.v switches to be: hereinafter more fully described, are provided for coiiperatively associating' the device 4 and transmitter 5 to gether and with the main circuit. Diagram-' matically 'I have shown the valve 4 as being operatively connected with a switch 6, the device illustrated for such a purpose consisting of a bell crank lever 7 pivotally mounted on the valve at a point S-and pro vided with a switch operating arm 9 and an arm 10 which carries a roller 11 adapted to engage a notch 12 in the stem 13 of the Suitable electrical connections and v its normal wide open position "to'any posivalve. :Normally when the valve is wide. open, the. notch-"12 registers with the roller,"

11 so that the lever 7 and switch 6 will re-' main in the normalpositions disclosed in Fig." 1. is soon as the valve is-moved to an'd1'56 when intheir reversed orvdotted line close it, the notch is brought out of register with roller 11 to cause lever 7 to move to the dotted line position and consequently to shift switch 6 to the dotted line position. A

Transmitter .5 consists of an operating electromagnet 14 adapted to operate an armature 15 when properly energized, the armature being connected with one arm 16 of'a bell crank releasing lever 17. The other Mounted upon ashaft 29 carrying gear 24 is a releasing disk 30 having a series of notches 31 and another series of notches 32 for coiiperation'with a detent 33 formed on arm 18 of releasing lever 17. Adjacent to .disk 30 is a switch operating cam 34 adapted to control the movements of a switch 35, the

. operatingarm 36-of which engages the surface of 'the cam in the same manner that 9.1111 28. of the circuit breaker '27 engages 'si a1 wheel 26. i

agnet- 14 is of special construction, the

, center of its winding being connected with described.

a lead 37 and/its terminals beingco'nnected with leads 38 and 39. The purposeofsuch a construction will be hereinafter more fully Circuit breaker 27 consists of two fingers 40 and 41, which engage contacts 42 and 43 which when the fingers are in their normalpositions such as disclosed in Fig. 1, connect the a paratusabov-e set forth, with the line "circu t. In their opposite ordotted line positions, asdisclosed in Fig. 1', the fingers enagecontacts 44 and 45 whichare grounded ymeafis of a lead 46. Switch 35 consists -;of a seidiis of fingers 47,48, 49 and 50,'fingers 47,48fand50 of. which when in their normal positions, engage contacts 51, {52 and 53 respectively, fingers 47, 49 and 50 ,being adapted toengagerespective contacts54, 55

positions as "disclosedin Fig. 1.' Contact 54 is grounded by means of a lead 57, the re- -maining contacts beingconnected with other 7 portions .of the apparatus as will be hereinafter-L more fully set. forth. i

- @Swith '6 which is} directly contai b operation of valve 40 consists' of a series of l fingers 58, 59 and 60,.fing'er58beii1g adapted when in its. normal position, to engage a con- 'ta ct 61, asidisclose'd' in Fig. 1,. fingers 59 and fiOj-beingadapted to engage contacts 62 and I 63 when in their reversed or dotted line positions', as disclosed in Fig. 1, contactv 62. being groundedby means of a lead 64, the remains vof'sharp drops 68 at their rear ends.

switches 6 and 35.

ing contacts being suitably connectedwith the remaining portions of the apparatus'as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Cam 34 is provided with a series of lobes 65 which are connected with a series of depressed or tlow portions 66 by'means of in clines 67 at their forward ends and by meli ilrlis e positions of lobes 65 on cam 34, when detent 33 engages notches 31 of releasing wheel '30, is such that the cam engaging end'69 of finger 36, is in the position disclosed in F ig., 1, ready to drop into the adjacent depression 66 as soon as the lever 17 is raised to withdraw its detent 33 from notch 31 to permit shaft 29 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow. In this normal position, the end 70 of finger 28, lies adjacent to one of the signal wheel teeth 71 of signal wheel 26, ready to send a signal as soon as fingers 40 and 41 are lifted to break the circuit. Fingers 40 and 41 normall y are connected into the main line circuit and form a-portion thereof as will now be described. Finger 41, is connected to main line 72 and its contact 43'is connectedwith contacts 53 and 55 of switch 35 by means of a connection 73, lead 39 of one terminal of releasing magnet 14 being connected therewith as shown. Contact 53 of switch 35 bein normally en-- gaged by finger 50 thereof, nger 50 neces- ,s'arily forms a portionof'the main line circuit and is provided witha connection 74 which-connects it with contact 61 of finger 58. Finger- 58 is also in normal engagement with contact 61' and consequently forms a portion of the main line circuit when in this Therefore, it is provided with a Y position. connection 75 which connects it with finger 47 ofswitch 35, contact-'51 of which is en gaged normally 3 by finger 47; For this reason finger 47, when inthis position also forms a portion of the main line circuit.

Contact 51 is provided with a lead 76 which connects it with a connection 77- extending between finger 60 of switch 6 and'contact- 42 of-circuit breaker 27, to" both ofwhich it is connected. Lead 76 and connection 77 also form a portion of the mainline when the parts are in "the position shown in Fig.

tion of, the main line circuit ancl'is connected" w with the opposite portion 78 thereof as disclosed, It will be seen that. by'the'se connections the .main line circuit is intact throughout theapparatus locally connected'with the supervised device, and furthermore, it will be seen thatioperating magnet '14 is shunted by reason of the vconnections made through Contacts 52 and 56 are connected by respective leads 79 andSO with nes's of illustration.

central lead-.37 of magnet finger 49 of I switch 35 and contact 63 ofswitch 6 are con- .nected by means. of lead 81, and finger 48 of switch 35 and ,fingerl59'tof switchfi are connected by-means ofle'ad 82. r

InEig. 2, the magnet 14, circuit breaker I I. 27, switch '35 switch 6, and the electrical connections between these elements, are disclosed,.mechan ical details of the apparatus disclosed in Fig; 1, being omitted-forclear- Corresponding connections and elements of the switches-are desige hated-by thesame-reference numerals as indicated by Fig. 1," and for this reason the pathof the circuit for the changesfof the y positions of the switches, may-Lit preferred.)

be more easily followed thanby reference to the entire apparatus disclosed ln'Fig. l. In Fig; 3 I have shown-in diagrammatic -form the entire circuit, including that portionirepresented byv the central station. The

1 central station has been designated Iby the dot-dash line in this figure, all elements of the system: located; within this line being included in the central station" equipment. At 83, 84,85 and 861 have shown diagrammatically the apparatus disclosedlin lii'g. l; v portions 87, 88, 89'and, 90 representingfthdjs elements represented by the transmitter mechanism, the'cirouit breaker 27 and switch 35, the supervised devices 4 and the "respec Y tive switches-6 being represented at -.9l 92, 93, 94:, 95, 96, 97 and 98.: -At the central" station I have disclosed {the source of 'energy as being abattery 99 suitablyground edat the point. IOOandgconnctedwiththe' main line atv its opposite terminals signalrecording devices 101 and;102- of the open i circ'uit type also being disclosed the signal.

responsive magnets 103 and 10A: of which aredirectly connected into the main line for operating devices 101 and 102 respectively.

Magnets 103 and 104 control respective armatures \105 and 106 :which when brought to el gajge;'respectlve contacts 107 and 108,,

- ause operation offthe respective'signal 'incuit WiIIbe-deScribed as that of the closed 'cuittype. Because of being "shown and del scribed as of the closed circuit type arm'a-' three .105 and 106 normally are lifted by j magnets 1'03 and 104 from engagement with respective-contacts 107 and 108. v .For; this reason it is only when the; circuit is --broken nism. e

I thatthese armatures'a're released to permit the signal indicating devices 109 and 110' to record the signals sent by'transmitter 5' in ,res'ponse to operation of-'the 'valye mocha-c In operation Whether one or aseries. .as disclosedinjFig. 1 b. e]co H main line, the pathof the currentwhen the 1 just described. j

passes fromjb'eneath end 69 0f fin to-drop into" depressed portion 66 -o-r am;

v the apparatus ini its nor mal condition asd'isclosed in Figt'1,- thee1ec "trieal connections ofits operating switches and. circuit breaker being as disclosed the'i'eas indicated-by the arrows. The-path taken in and in Figg2. -In this condition the main line circuit; is as follows, considering the energy-as entering alongmain line :12 and as; leaving the fjapparatus along mallrj'line =78 by the current is 7 2,- {L1, 43, 7 3, 535 50 1, 61,

along the main line178. to the central station, through magnets 103' and 104 and the source of electrical energy 99 andlback -,throug.h

mainline 71. Shoulda series of supervis ddevi'ces be connected infon the} main line 5 they may each be-provided'with a; separate transmitter 5, 'or severaPsupervised devices may beconnected With 'one'tra11 s1nitter and several such units inserted on the main. line devices {are in their normal positions, will be the same as'that It will be. assumed that valve rvhich is appa'ra'tus fsuc'h nnectd intaithe.

disclosed in Fig.1; a d

it's normal wide open position, isclose'd. 1 1 This causes notch '12 to be brought out of registenwithmollerL11 and through bell crank-7,- to: causeiswitch 6 to-j'bringfingers 5s, 59- and 6.0thereof to the dottedjline'posi- "tions s hown. The circuit is imme'diately "broken-at contact til-and fingers 59"andgfi0 j are brought into. engagement "vvithjConta-ctS' 62-and263 respectively. -The result .is'that the-current entering, through mainline 72;,

takes the following paththro'u .41 73',

39, one-half ofmagnet 1 15,137, 79152 484.82,

59,-.62 and- 64 ,:.atyvh1c h oin't i t is rounded, the current returning; t rough ground con neetio'n @100- ;to-the' source of electric-poten'- f -tiaI--9-9. .iThe current passing through one i1 half of magnet 14 is .novv'sufiicientto attractalii ature 15 and lift lever 17'tor detentf33ffrom'notch 131 to releasefvvheel 30 and'asimultaneously to release escapemen't ve: a

pawl; 19; I 4 The geartrain of. transmitter-:6

.; itch 35., flThi s'ipermits end. 5910f mmediately .starts.' to operate. and" 619% f' 34; sotliatks'witch fingers 47, s, as filhdfip 1 a may move to the dotted'line positionsf djse m't ng em n t d-79 e 1 9,- 6 :1 0,71, 4: 0,:.a1'1fi t.' f overimain line 7-8.- ,With the parts positions, the. -=transmitter inech'an ates'to bring teeth 71 of signal whee 'tactsrjt2 and 43, and tofbrea'k thecircliit, be-'- with.finger" 28 to. circu1t'breaker27. Thus breaker operating fin ger 28". causes circuit breaker fingers 40,41 to disengage conclose the local circuit thro'ughfthe signal 'indicators 109 and 110 located at the central 'ofl'ice. This; occurs as many times'as there are teeth 71' to bebrought, into engagement the trouble andalarm signalis'ftransmitted to the central o'flice. Upon completion of the signal, notch .32 having been brought into register with-detent '33, lever 17 drops to stop operation of: escapement pawl 19 since thejoircuit of magnet- 14 was shunted when switch w'as'brought into o eratio'n."

As soon as the troubleindicate byithe' closing of the valvea-has'ibeen removed by opening the'valve, the notch-{12 is brought occupies apoint midway between shoulder into register with 'roller{11 j"to-"per it lever 7 be restored'tm'its normalf'pos'ition-thus permitting switchfingers T5'8,-K59-"and 60 I v cause thetransmitter jreleasing magnets are,

again tomov'e to-the full-line positions indicated in Fig. 1. Afnew .circuitjis again established as follows:*72,41,-43, 7 3,, 39, 37, 1 s0,- 56, 50, 74, 51-, 58,, 75,47, and 57, at

which point thencircuit is grounded to return through ground 106 at the central sta.- tion. This restahlishesthe circuit through the transmitter releasing magnet 14 and again causes lever ll-to lift "detent 53 so" that notch 32"Will be disengaged and so thatpawl 19 will be released to permit operation of the transmitter. Upon completion of the trouble signal the cam'3 t has been brought tosuch a positionthat end 69 of finger 36 '68 of lobe 65 and incline 67 of adjacent lobe 65.- Detent 33 and arm' .18. having released the transmitter train, teeth- 112 of;'signal wheel 26 are brought into engagement with end 70 of circuit breaker-operatingfinger 28- to 'again cause its operation; The transinitter now 'operatesto bring the remaining portion-of hollow 66 of cam atbeneath, end

69 of finger 36 and to bring the blank por-' tion of signal -wheel"26 beneath end '70 o1? circuit breaker operating. finger 28. Just -previou s to the saga ement'of teeth 112 with end 70 of; circuit breaker operating finger 28, en 69' of switch operating finger 36, is liftedbyincline 67 to change theposition of fingers l'l', 48,- 49 and,50 once more to the full line positions disclosed; The parts are now in; the positions disclosed in full lines in Fig. 1 and the teeth-112 are. in posi-- tion'to transmit theO. signal. Finger 36 having been lifted 'b yincline 67 to bring it on to lobe 65, continued operation of the transmitter brings teeth 112 successively be- .neath"finger 28 to. cause operation of the cirimam cuit breaker to transmit the O. K. signal! The signal having been completed, the transmitter continues to run until the next notch 31 comes into registration with detent 33, at which time lever 17 'drops and stops the transmitter train, the'next series of'trouble signals sending teeth 71, having vbeen brought into position to transmit the next trouble signal immediately upon operation of the transmitter. The parts of the system upon stopping after having transmitted the, O. K. signal, are left in the full line positions disclosed in Fig. 1.

It will be seen'that introduction of the transmitter releasing magnet into the system, is had only for purposes of releasing the transmitter, the introduction being temporary and only of sutficient duration to lift lever 17 to release the transmitter train. For this reason, under normal conditions, the system is absolutely free of the resistance' usually imposed upon it by the introduction of each of the operating magnets er the signal sending transmitters located in the system. v

- In addition to this, it will be seen that benormally'out of the'circuit, the number of devices to be supervised arefpractically'un- I limited. Another advantage attained by my improved'system is that there is but a single source of electric potential which is'located at the central or signal receiving station of the system, whereas with one of the olclsys terns now in use a source of energy must be maintained at the central station, see. Fig. 3, as well as at each place to be supervised,

as at 87, 88, 89 and 90. In addition to this,

the source of electric potential, because of the low resistance of the circuit, can be much less powerful than those employed-in other central energy systems heretofore employed, Such a system as disclosed by me is" therefore, much more cheaply installed and maintained than other syste'ms since not only the cost of apparatusis materially reduced, but also the cost of maintaining the systems in operative condition. 1 Be-- cause of'those advantages the system herein I disclosed is of necessity much more reliable than other systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: h

1. An electric signal system consisting of a signal responsive device, an electromagnetically released signal transmitter, a device to be supervised, a means adapted to introduce the transmitter magnet into the circuit to release the transmitter upon change of said device from one position to another or return to its normal conditlon,

.and means adapted to remove the magnet irom the circuit upon initiation of operation of said transmitter.

2. electric signal system consisting of neunaa cuit to release the transmitter upon changeof said device-from one position to another or return to its normal condition.

3. An electric signal system consisting of a signal responsive device, a transmitter, an elect'romagnet adapted to-release the transmitter a device to be supervised, a switch operatively connected with the device, adapted to introduce the magnet into the circuit instantly upon change-of said, device from one position to another or "return to its nor-- mal condition, and a switch operativelyconnected with the transmitter, adapted to remove the magnet fromthe circuit instantly upon initiation of operation of. the transmitter.

4. An electric si al device comprising a signal responsive evice, a signal transmitter, a device to be supervised, an electromagnet adapted to release the transmitter, and means operatively connected with the transmitter and the device, adapted northe shunt upon change ofsaid device from one position to another or return to its normal condition and'upon initiation of-opration of said transmitter to restore said shunt. 5, An electric signal system comprising a signal responsive device, a slgnaltransmib ter, a circuit breaker operatively connected device, adapted to introduce the ma the circuit upon change of said device from with said. transmitter, a device tobe supervised, an electromagnet adapted to release the transmitter.-and means operatively connected with the transmitter andthe device to be supervised, adapted to introduce the magnet into the circuit upon change of said devlce from one position'to another or re turn to its normal condition and to remove the magnet from the circuit upon initiation of operation ofsaid transmitter, whereby the circuit breaker may transmit signals response to operation of said transmitter.

6 An'electric signal system consisting of I a signal responsive. device, a signal transmitter, a, circuit breaker responsive to operation of said transmitter, an electromagnet adapted to release the transmitter, a device tobe supervised, a switch controlled by the or return to itsnormal condition, and a second switch',.ope ratively connected with the transmitter, adapted to remove the magnet from the circuit upon initiation of movement of said transmitter, whereby the transmitter upon initiation of. operation, will 7 'noperate the circuit breaker to' transmit siginally to shunt said magnet andto remove nals to said'signal responsive device.

In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of February, 1917.

- JAMES D; NELSON. Witnesses":

Warn-m F. MUR AY," W. Tnonnrou' et into. 

